Cumbrian Head Gardener To Share Platform With Monty Don At National Conference
A Cumbrian head gardener is set to showcase his horticultural expertise at a major national conference alongside leading figures from British gardening.
Matthew Murgatroyd, head gardener at Holker Hall and Gardens, will travel to The Newt in Somerset for the Head Gardeners’ Conference on October 7. The event is now in its fourth year and brings together experienced horticultural professionals to discuss the changing role of plants and garden design. This year’s conference will focus particularly on shrubs, hedges and topiary, examining how these features can continue to play an important role in British landscapes and future garden management.
The conference is being held under the theme ‘Under the Canopy: The Future of Shrubs in British Landscapes’. The programme will explore how established horticultural practices can respond to changing expectations and conditions while maintaining the character of traditional gardens. Shrubs, hedges and topiary have long played an important role in formal and historic landscapes, and the conference will provide an opportunity for professionals to exchange knowledge about their care, management and future use.
Mr Murgatroyd will be among a number of specialists contributing to the event’s programme. Other speakers include Matthew Pottage, head of horticulture and landscape strategy at The Royal Parks, Alasdair Moore, head of estate and gardens at Tresco, and Jake Hobson, founder of Niwaki. Their combined experience covers major public gardens, historic estates and specialist approaches to horticultural design, providing a broad range of perspectives for delegates attending the conference.
The Cumbrian gardener will deliver a presentation titled Modern Ways with Historic Hedges. His talk will draw on the experience gained during his work at Holker Hall and Gardens, where historic garden features form an important part of the landscape. The session will examine approaches to managing and maintaining traditional hedges while considering how contemporary horticultural techniques can be applied without losing their historic character.
As well as speaking during the main programme, Mr Murgatroyd will lead two live workshops during the afternoon. These sessions will focus on shaping topiary and will give delegates the opportunity to see practical techniques demonstrated directly. The workshops add a hands on element to the conference programme, complementing the presentations and discussions taking place throughout the day.
Historic hedges and topiary require regular maintenance and careful attention to shape, growth and plant health. In gardens with long established landscapes, that work also involves understanding how particular features developed over time and how their original character can be retained. The practical knowledge involved in managing such features is therefore closely connected to the history of the gardens where they are found.
Holker Hall and Gardens provides a significant part of Mr Murgatroyd’s professional experience in this area. His role as head gardener involves responsibility for maintaining one of Cumbria’s notable historic garden landscapes, where formal planting and carefully managed garden features contribute to the wider setting. The knowledge developed through this work will form the basis of his contribution to the national gathering in Somerset.
The conference will also provide an opportunity for horticultural professionals from different parts of the country to exchange ideas about the future of garden management. With experienced figures from public parks, historic estates and specialist horticultural businesses taking part, the programme covers both practical and strategic aspects of working with established garden landscapes. The event is intended to encourage discussion about how traditional features can remain relevant within changing British gardens.
The closing session will bring several of the conference contributors together for a collaborative discussion. Broadcaster, author and gardener Monty Don will take part in that final discussion, giving Mr Murgatroyd the opportunity to share the closing stage with one of the best known figures in British horticulture. The session will bring together different experiences and approaches discussed throughout the conference.
Mr Murgatroyd described the invitation as an honour and said he was looking forward to contributing alongside the other speakers. He also highlighted the importance of sharing knowledge about historic hedges and topiary with other gardeners who are interested in maintaining these traditions. His comments reflect the balance between preserving established horticultural practices and considering how they can be approached in modern garden settings.
The conference appearance will place experience from a Cumbrian historic garden within a wider national horticultural discussion. While the event is being held in Somerset, the issues being explored apply to gardens and landscapes across Britain, including historic estates and public gardens in the North West. Knowledge about maintaining hedges, shrubs and topiary can be particularly valuable where established features form part of the identity and structure of a historic landscape.
For Holker Hall and Gardens, the event also provides an opportunity to highlight the practical work carried out by its gardening team. Historic landscapes depend on long term maintenance and specialist skills to preserve their appearance and character. Sharing that experience with other professionals can help demonstrate the level of knowledge required to manage traditional features while responding to contemporary approaches to horticulture.
The Head Gardeners’ Conference will bring together speakers with experience across several areas of professional horticulture, creating a programme centred on the future of British garden landscapes. Mr Murgatroyd’s presentation and workshops will add a practical perspective focused on historic hedges and topiary, while the closing discussion will bring together contributors for a wider exchange of ideas.
The event represents a notable opportunity for a Cumbrian horticultural professional to contribute to a national gathering of fellow gardeners and landscape specialists. Through his presentation and practical workshops, Mr Murgatroyd will share knowledge developed through his work at Holker Hall and Gardens, while taking part in discussions about how traditional horticultural features can continue to be cared for and valued in the years ahead.
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